Serpent of the Crawling Earth

There is a strange phenomenon in the Land of Fire: the closer one gets to Konoha, the more numerous the forests become, and the taller and more lush the trees grow.

Moving through the forest behind the Hokage Rock, it is difficult even for sunlight to pierce through the thick, spring-blooming canopy to reach the ground.

The emerald leaves sway in the spring breeze, and the lush new grass, carrying the fragrance of damp earth, brings a vibrant vitality to the land.

As the seasons cycle, after the bitter cold of winter, spring once again fills life with rhythm and vigor.

Strolling through the dense forest, Orochimaru is somewhat distracted.

He is already forty years old; while his life is still in the lingering warmth of summer, the bleakness of autumn and winter seems to be right before his eyes.

Unless he can occupy a tree that is still growing vigorously in the spring.

Beside him, Uchiha Chen is still smiling faintly, seemingly unaware that the person next to him has already harbored malice toward him.

"Mr. Orochimaru, where were we just now?"

"The Caged Bird Seal, yes, the Caged Bird Seal!"

Orochimaru withdraws his predatory gaze, recalling the earnest and patient demeanor of his teacher, Sarutobi, when he was young, and begins to explain his understanding of the Caged Bird Seal to Uchiha Chen.

The efficacy of the Caged Bird Seal is terrifyingly powerful.

Once a member of the Branch Family has their eyes stolen or dies, the seal will instantly destroy both the eyes and the reproductive system of that individual, ensuring that the enemy has absolutely no possibility of obtaining the Byakugan.

"As for the seal that allows the Main Family to control the lives of the Branch Family,"

Orochimaru's voice is hoarse and magnetic, and he carelessly reveals some of his own 'little secrets':

"I have probed it; it is not as ancient and perfect as the other parts of this seal, but rather looks like something inserted into it later."

"Having discussed the Byakugan, Chen-kun, let's talk about the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan of your Uchiha Clan!"

Orochimaru glances at Uchiha Chen, the corners of his mouth curling slightly, as if this question is merely the curiosity of a researcher toward the unknown.

"Just how powerful is the strength of this legendary Asura of the Shinobi World?"

Orochimaru does not pursue power for its own sake.

However, after recently experiencing the residual might of the God of Shinobi firsthand, he cannot help but be interested in the power of the Asura that could stand alongside him, especially given Itachi's performance, which makes him care even more about this bloodline limit of the Sharingan.

"The power of the Mangekyō is not as powerful as the legends suggest."

Contrary to Orochimaru's expectations, Uchiha Chen does not boast about the strength of the Mangekyō, but instead says straightforwardly:

"Just as a possessor of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan is considered an elite among jōnin, a possessor of the Mangekyō is merely in the upper echelon among top-tier powerhouses.

As for Madara, he is special, just as the First was special within the Senju Clan."

"Is that so?"

Orochimaru lowers his head and lets out a few sinister chuckles, then suddenly, a torrential, mournful killing intent erupts from his body, and he speaks in a chilling tone:

"Chen-kun, I hear you have made great progress on the battlefield. Why don't we spar a little?"

As soon as he finishes speaking, Orochimaru's entire body twists like a snake, flickering slightly, and he emits a terrifying hissing sound, launching an attack before Uchiha Chen can even respond.

Uchiha Chen narrows his eyes, using the Body Flicker Technique to put distance between himself and Orochimaru.

Hiss!

Orochimaru's boneless, soft neck suddenly elongates, and he violently opens his mouth to spit out an emerald-green venomous snake. The foul-smelling snake mouth opens wide again, spitting out half of Orochimaru's body, which then roars as it spits out a Kusanagi Sword shimmering with cold light.

The Kusanagi Sword is a collective term for a class of famous swords, much like the 'Supreme Grade Swords'; as for exactly how many there are, no one besides Orochimaru, who is keen on collecting them, likely knows.

Man spits snake, snake spits man, and man spits sword—Orochimaru instantly closes the distance to Uchiha Chen.

Amidst the heaven-shaking ringing of the blade, Orochimaru's expression becomes increasingly ferocious and sinister, and he laughs aloud:

"Don't worry, Chen. I won't pick a fruit that is only half-ripe right now; let me just leave a mark on you!"

"Demonic Illusion: Ignis Fatuus!"

Uchiha Chen's calm and indifferent voice rings out, and the eye power within his scarlet pupils blooms.

The scene before Orochimaru's eyes changes instantly; raging flames wrap around his body, and the pain acting directly upon his spirit is far greater than being burned by fire.

"Genjutsu: Release!"

The sky-filling flames flicker and turn illusory for a split second, but they remain wrapped around Orochimaru.

The flames burn even more fiercely.

Orochimaru feels a sense of trepidation.

He has fought many Uchiha ninjas with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He himself is a master of genjutsu and is certain that he should be able to dispel a genjutsu cast by a Three-Tomoe eye.

And to think that I am actually trapped by a genjutsu as simple as Ignis Fatuus?

With no time to think, Orochimaru, feeling as if he is trapped in a quagmire, bites down on a pill hidden under his tongue. The suddenly erupting potent poison interferes with his Chakra flow, allowing him to break free from the Ignis Fatuus genjutsu.

Snake Style Substitution Technique.

After consuming a large amount of Chakra to complete a shedding process and expel the poison, Orochimaru stands there holding the Kusanagi Sword, looking at Uchiha Chen with burning eyes.

"Chen, your eye power is already stronger than any Uchiha I have ever seen!"

"Is that so? Then you haven't seen enough."

Two figures moving at high speeds shuttled through the forest, locked in fierce combat that set off bursts of sonic booms in the air. Even while engaged in close-quarters melee, both still had the spare energy to chat like old friends.

They both tacitly agreed not to use ninjutsu or any other methods that would attract unwanted attention.

"Chen, you were already outstanding, but your progress over the past six months has been nothing short of a leap. What on earth happened to you?"

Orochimaru's voice was tinged with a fanatical madness. He took a sword strike from Uchiha Chen directly with his body, and ignoring the wound, his neck suddenly elongated. Like a snake, he opened his maw wide to bite at Uchiha Chen's shoulder.

"No matter what happened to you, it will all be mine soon! Cursed Seal Technique!"

"Mr. Orochimaru, are you trying to take over my body?"

Facing the attack that was about to reach his face, the corners of Uchiha Chen's mouth curled up slightly as he laughed:

"Then let me show you the true power of the Sharingan!"

Orochimaru's expression froze, as if a flash of blood-red light had swept over him.

He turned his head in the direction the light came from, meeting Uchiha Chen's gaze perfectly.

"How beautiful!"

Orochimaru stared with dazed eyes at the pattern in Uchiha Chen's pupils, which was completely different from the Three-Tomoe, and stood there as if turned to stone.

Tsukuyomi!

Within a mental world that resembled a blood-red abyss.

Orochimaru was nailed to a Cross, doing an impression of Yego, with his mouth stuffed with the signature gag of Uchiha Chen's genjutsu.

Uchiha Chen crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the horrified Orochimaru, and said with a tone of feigned heartbreak:

"A snake that crawls on the ground should just obediently roll in the dirt and hunt in the grass; isn't that a happy life in itself? Why, upon seeing a divine dragon soaring through the sky, do you overestimate your own abilities and delusionally dream of flying like one?"

Reptiles cannot grow wings. The fantasy of stealing wings to fly into the heavens will only lead to you falling and being smashed to pieces!

Mr. Orochimaru, I am doing this for your own good, do you understand?"

Orochimaru's mental projection trembled again and again, but with his mouth gagged, he couldn't utter a single word.

"It seems you still don't understand! For the sake of the village, for the harmony of Konoha, I must administer a small punishment to warn you, and strive to help you turn over a new leaf!"

The righteous-looking Uchiha Chen used Yin Release power to manifest a long sword and began his 'persuasion' of Orochimaru.